|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The authors ask you:
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed two ladder "add-ons" for improved orchard ladder safety. The safe last step is a modified last step that has a device which provides an audio signal when deflection is detected on that rung of the ladder. When replaced as the bottom rung of an orchard ladder, it alerts the worker that they are about to step onto the ground, thus preventing a worker from mistakenly trying to get off too early and falling to the ground. The redesigned third leg is a sleeve made of steel tubing which slides over the ladder leg and is cut on one end to create a spade shape designed to dig into the ground. One prototype has been made which incorporates a carbide tip to provide an "increased grip" in icy or similar ground conditions. When the redesigned third leg is attached to the third leg of a ladder, it adds stability and decreases the chance of the leg slipping and the worker falling. These inventions resulted from a five year NIOSH funded study that aimed to identify and address injuries among orchard workers. This project collected and compared data on deciduous tree fruit injuries from three population sources: worker compensation data, key informants, and worker interviews. Information from these sources guided the development of a larger worker questionnaire that prioritized issues related to injuries in the deciduous tree fruit workplace. This data identified falls from ladders as the most common and costly injury reported by orchard workers in Washington State. The safe last step and the redesigned third leg are two simple inventions that may be easily applied to orchard ladders to increase worker safety.
Washington is one of the most productive agricultural states in the United States, being the nation's leading producer of apples, cherries and pears in 2002 (1). Each year agricultural production and related services in Washington account for $28 billion, employing approximately 170,000 workers (1,2) However, agriculture is also one of the most dangerous jobs. Ladders are an essential tool in orchard agriculture and are also an important cause of injury.
A NIOSH funded research study, led by Dr. Keifer, examined Labor and Industries workers' compensation claims from 1996 to 2001. In this data set of 13,068 claims, ladder-related claims accounted for nearly half (48%) of all 'compensable' claims (e.g. claims involving time loss, disability or 'loss of earning power' in addition to medical expenses) (3). These claims were not only the most frequent but also the most expensive collectively in terms of medical aid, time loss and other costs. On a per-claim basis, ladder-related injuries were among the most severe and costly reported injuries. In the interviews with orchard workers that followed this initial analysis, the most common type of accident reported was falls, usually from a ladder; and the most common injuries were strains and sprains (4).
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed two ladder "add-ons" for improved orchard ladder safety. The safe last step is a modified last step that has a device which provides an audio signal when deflection is detected on that rung of the ladder. When replaced as the bottom rung of an orchard ladder, it alerts the worker that they are about to step onto the ground, thus preventing a worker from mistakenly trying to get off too early and falling to the ground. The redesigned third leg is a sleeve made of steel tubing which slides over the ladder leg and is cut on one end to create a spade shape designed to dig into the ground. One prototype has been made which incorporates a carbide tip to provide an "increased grip" in icy or similar ground conditions. When the redesigned third leg is attached to the third leg of a ladder, it adds stability and decreases the chance of the leg slipping and the worker falling.
The safe last step and the redesigned third leg are two simple inventions that may be easily applied to orchard ladders to increase worker safety.
Prototypes have been developed and the next step is a feasibility study that includes looking at intervention effectiveness, cost, likeability/ workers' willingness to use and other issues.
The findings and conclusions in this poster are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Citations to Web sites external to NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of these Web sites.
